Health News For Champlain


Thursday, April 21, 2011
Ontario. Ministry of Health Pormotion
Strengthening A Smoke-Free Ontario


McGuinty Government Takes New Steps To Protect Youth and Help Smokers Quit


Ontario is taking new steps to stamp out illegal tobacco, help more people quit smoking, and ensure young people don't get addicted.

Building on significant progress made through its Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, today the government will introduce new legislation to cut the supply of contraband tobacco - focusing on tougher controls over raw leaf products, new fines for possession, and stronger seizure powers for police.

To further protect children and youth from the harmful effects of smoking, Ontario will work with educators and young people to keep schools smoke-free and develop youth-led strategies focused on prevention.

Smokers will also get more help to quit through a series of either new or enhanced supports:
  • Smoking cessation counselling in health care settings and pharmacies;
  • Targeted help for smokers with chronic diseases who are in hospitals;
  • Cessation tools to help people in jobs where smoking increases health risks; and
  • Access to nicotine replacement therapies through primary care providers.

Today's announcement is part of the McGuinty government's ongoing commitment to curb tobacco use, protect youth and prevent people from smoking. It builds on earlier government action that includes banning the sale of flavoured cigarillos to youth, protecting kids from second-hand smoke in cars, and making enclosed environments smoke-free in Ontario.

QUICK FACTS
  • Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario. It kills 13,000 people a year - three times the combined deaths caused by alcohol, drugs, suicide, homicide and car crashes.
  • Tobacco-related disease costs Ontario's health care system $1.93 billion in direct health care costs and $5.8 billion in productivity losses each year.
  • The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reported that, in 2009, contraband tobacco accounted for 43 per cent of all cigarettes consumed by Ontario high school students who smoked every day.
  • The Ministry of Revenue seized 150 million illegal cigarettes, 978,000 untaxed cigars and 47 million grams of fine cut tobacco between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2011.

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